Nuclear power plant control room simulator

ABSTRACT

A system is provided for simulating an operating environment of a power plant control room (e.g., a nuclear power plant control room). The system may include a simulator configured to simulate the operating environment of the control room, and a simulation computer in communication with the simulator, wherein the simulation computer may he configured to perform a plurality of real-time calculations associated with modeling the operating environment of the control room. The simulator and the simulation computer may include only standard off-the-shelf components.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/699,140, filed Feb. 3, 2010, entitled “Nuclear Power PlantControl Room Simulator,” which claims priority to and the benefit ofU.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/150,493, entitled “NuclearPower Plant Control Room Simulator,” filed Feb. 6, 2009, whichapplications are hereby incorporated by reference herein in theirentirety.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate, generally, to simulators and, inparticular, to simulators that can be used in, among other places, anuclear power plant control room.

BACKGROUND

Nuclear Measurement Analysis and Control (NUMAC) refers to themonitoring and control of various processes of a nuclear power plant(e.g., monitoring and controlling radiation, temperature, power ranges,etc.). Various pieces of equipment, referred to hereinafter as “NUMACequipment,” may be used to perform these monitoring activities within anuclear power plant's control room. Due to the complexity and the levelof importance associated with the NUMAC equipment, it may be desirable,if not mandatory, to train individuals to use the equipment properly andto respond to different scenarios as they occur. As a result, simulatedNUMAC equipment may be provided. However, the equipment needed to createthis simulated environment can be quite costly. In addition there arevarious regulations that the equipment must satisfy, such as thoseoutlined in the NRC Regulatory Guide § 1.149, as well as the applicableANSI (American National Standards Institute) simulator standard.

Throughout the years, different simulator vendors have made availablevarious simulated NUMAC hardware. One issue with these solutions hasbeen hardware obsolescence and ongoing maintenance. For example, gasplasma displays, which are frequently used in simulated NUMAC hardwaresolutions provided, can be especially problematic, often failing at arate of about one a year. In addition, some of the solutions providedinclude custom-built processor boards. These solutions further run oncustomized operating platforms and use custom-designed software to buildthe displays. These solutions also pose issues in relation tointerchangeability of components and cost.

A need, therefore, exists for a simulator that can be used in, amongother places, a nuclear power plant control room that overcomes theseand other issues.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In general, embodiments of the present invention provide an improvementby, among other things, providing systems and software for simulatingthe operating environment of a nuclear power plant control room usingoff-the-shelf equipment that is less expensive and easily replaceableand interchangeable.

According to one aspect, a system is provided for simulating anoperating environment of a power plant control room (e.g., a nuclearpower plant control room). In one embodiment, the system may include asimulator configured to simulate the operating environment of thecontrol room, and a simulation computer in communication with thesimulator, wherein the simulation computer may be configured to performa plurality of real-time calculations associated with modeling theoperating environment of the control room. The simulator and thesimulation computer may include only standard off-the-shelf components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

Having thus described embodiments of the invention in general terms,reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are notnecessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one type of system that would benefit fromembodiments described herein; and

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a computing device in accordance withembodiments described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention now will be described more fullyhereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some,but not all embodiments of the inventions are shown. Indeed, embodimentsof the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should notbe construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather,these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfyapplicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elementsthroughout.

Referring to FIG. 1, an illustration of one type of system that wouldbenefit from embodiments of the present invention is provided. As shownin FIG. 1, the system can include one or more simulators 100 connectedto one or more simulation computers 200 via a simulator network 300. Inone embodiment, the simulator 100 can comprise a computing device 101(discussed in more detail below with regard to FIG. 2) configured tosimulate the operating environment of a nuclear power plant controlroom. In particular, the computing device 101 may be configured tosimulate NUMAC equipment used to monitor and control various processesin a nuclear power plant, such as radiation, temperature, power range,and/or the like. As shown in FIG. 1, in one embodiment, the computingdevice 101 may comprise a Pico-ITX system based on the VIA PX10000G picoITX motherboard (referred to hereinafter as “Pico-ITX PC”). The Pico-ITXPC is relatively inexpensive, small in size, and provides flexibility torun different operating systems (e.g., XP, CE, LINUX, etc). In addition,the Pico-ITX PC includes Video Graphic Array (VGA), 10/100 NIC (networkcard), and 4 Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0 ports, as well as audioin/out jacks.

As shown, the computing device 101 may be connected to a display monitor102 for displaying information to a user. In general, the informationdisplayed can mirror, or at least closely resemble, the informationlikely to be displayed in a real-life scenario as various events occurand inputs are received from the user. For example, the display monitor102 may be configured to display an image that is the same, or similar,to that seen by an operator of actual NUMAC equipment when radiation isdetected somewhere in a nuclear power plant. In one embodiment, thedisplay monitor 102 may comprise a standard video graphics array (VGA)liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor, such as the open-frame 9″ wide VGA(WVGA) display from AcceleVision (i.e., “LCD9WVGA”), connected to thecomputing device 101 via the VGA port. Use of a standard VGA LCD canprovide flexibility to replace the display with new display technologyas it is improved and to enable use of a standard PC to drive thedisplay.

The computing device 101 can further be connected to a keypad 103, orsimilar user input device, fur receiving input from a user. In general,the input device can enable a user to input the same, or similar, typesof information in the same, or similar, format he or she would be likelyto input in a real-life scenario being simulated. In one embodiment, thekeypad 103 can be connected to the computing device 101 via a USBkeyboard encoder 104, such as the KE-USB24 from Hagstrom Electronics.According to one embodiment, the keyboard encoder 104 can turn the NUMACfront panel keypad 103 into a USB keyboard, simplifying softwaredevelopment.

In addition to the foregoing, in order to cause the simulator 100 tolook, sound and feel as much like actual NUMAC equipment as possible,the simulator 100 may further include a Piezo 106, as well as a KeylockSwitch 107 connected to the computing device 101 either directly (asshown with respect to the Piezo 106) or via a keyboard encoder (as shownwith respect to the Keylock Switch 107). In one embodiment, the Piezo106 can be configured to output a beep, horn, or other similar soundeffect, in response to the detection of some parameter and/or thereceipt of some input from the operator or user. The Keylock Switch 107can comprise a two-position switch, similar to that associated withactual NUMAC equipment, that can be adjusted to change the mode of theoverall system, for example, from “operate” to “in-op” mode, or viceversa.

Over time, the exact components used in the design of the simulator 100may not be available, and/or other components may become more desirable.Having to redesign the case or shelving used to store and display thesimulator 100 each time a new component is introduced could be both timeconsuming and expensive. As a result, the front plate and back shelvingof the simulator 100 of embodiments described herein was designed withflexibility in mind. In particular, according to one embodiment, aperforated shelf and wide spaced studs may be used on the back of thefront plate in order to allow for a variety of different equipment to beeasily mounted to the back of the simulator chassis without majorrework. For example, the studs on the front panel may allow for slightlylarger or smaller LCD displays to be used by changing the size/shape ofthe mounting bars. Similarly, the perforated shelf may allow fordifferent devices to be mounted using existing device mounting holes (ifavailable), tie wraps and/or other customer mounting hardware.

According to one embodiment, in order to simulate the environment of anuclear power plant control room, the computing device 101 of thesimulator 100 may be further connected to one or more simulationcomputers (or similar electronic devices) 200 associated with asimulator network 300. In one embodiment, the connection to thesimulator network 300 may be via a category 6 (CAT6), or similar, cable.In one embodiment, the simulation computer 200 can be configured toperform various real-time calculations associated with modeling thenuclear power plant environment. The calculations may be performed inresponse to a user input received by the computing device 101 (e.g., viathe keypad 103) and transmitted to the simulation computer 200. Theresults of these calculations may, thereafter, be transmitted to thecomputing device 101 of the simulator 100, such that the computingdevice 101 can take some action accordingly (e.g., cause a displayand/or alarm to be generated, etc.).

In other words, according to embodiments described herein, the simulator100 may act as an interface between the user and the simulation computer200, wherein the simulator 100 receives user inputs and provides variousoutputs to the user (e.g., via the display screen or Piezo), and thesimulation computer 200 performs any necessary calculations.

Referring to FIG. 2, a block diagram of a computing device 101 accordingto one embodiment is provided. In general, the computing device 101,which can comprise a server, personal computer (PC), laptop, and/or thelike, can include various means for performing one or more functions inaccordance with embodiments described herein, including those moreparticularly described herein. It should be understood, however, thatthe computing device 101 may include alternative means for performingone or more like functions, without departing from the spirit and scopeof embodiments described herein. In particular, the computing device 101can generally include means, such as a processor 201, or similarprocessing apparatus, for performing or controlling the variousfunctions of the computing device 101. For example, the processor 201may be configured to simulate certain scenarios associated with anuclear power plant control room. In particular, according to oneembodiment, the processor 201 may be configured to generate and display(e.g., on the LCD display monitor 102) the display screen an individualmay see if a heightened level of radiation is detected. The processor201 may further be configured to then receive as an input (e.g., via thekeypad 103) the trainee's response to the detected heightened level, andto take some action accordingly (e.g., acknowledge an alarm associatedwith the heightened level). To further illustrate, if, for example, anoperator is performing a simulation wherein the simulator 100 is faultyor providing false information, and he or she needs to place thesimulator 100 in “in-op” mode. To do so, the operator may switch theKeyLock Switch 107 from “operate” to “in-op” mode. In this example, theprocessor 201 may be configured to receive an indication that theKeyLock Switch 107 has been switched, generate a display indicating thatthe simulator 100 is in “in-op” mode, and transmit a signal to thesimulation computer 200 also indicating that the simulator 100 is in“in-op” mode.

In one embodiment, the processor 201 can be in communication with orinclude memory 202, such as volatile and/or non-volatile memory thatstores content, data or the like. For example, the memory 202 may storecontent transmitted from, and/or received by, the entity. Also forexample, the memory 202 may store software applications, instructions orthe like for the processor 201 to perform steps associated withoperation of the computer device 101 in accordance with embodimentsdescribed herein. For example, the memory 202 may store softwareinstructions for the processor 201 to perform the steps described abovefor simulating the operating environment of a nuclear power plantcontrol room.

According to one embodiment, the memory 202 may store computer programinstructions and data associated with the Windows XP, or similar,operating system. In addition, according to one embodiment, the memory202 may further store display and logic software developed, for example,based on Visual Basic.NET. Use of Visual Basic.NET for development ofdisplay and logic software can allow for easy development of NUMACscreens and logic. In addition, because the platform is the same as thatused in standard PC's, displays can be developed and tested on astandard PC without having NUMAC hardware.

In addition to the memory 202, the processor 201 can also be connectedto at least one interface or other means for displaying, transmittingand/or receiving data, content or the like. In this regard, theinterface(s) can include at least one communication interface 203 orother means for transmitting and/or receiving data, content or the like,as well as at least one user interface 204 that can include a display(e.g., display monitor 102) and/or a user input interface. The userinput interface, in turn, can comprise any of a number of devicesallowing the entity to receive data from a user, such as a keypad (e.g.,front panel keypad 103), a touch display, a joystick or other inputdevice. In one embodiment, User Datagram Protocol (UDP) multicast groupcan be used to transfer data to and/or from the computing device 101.This may result in an easier expandability from both the simulatorinterface side and the physical network setup and installation.

Conclusion:

Based on the foregoing, embodiments described herein provide a systemfor simulating the operating environment of a nuclear power plantcontrol room that uses a hardware platform that is much simpler thanother systems available, all off-the-shelf parts that can be easilyinterchanged and replaced, and user-servable connections betweencomponents can be user servable.

Hardware components of embodiments described herein may have a lifecyclethat can be supported for the remaining life of the nuclear, or other,plants in which they are used. In addition, according to embodimentsdescribed herein, LCD monitors and/or PC's incorporated into the systemcan be replaced with new hardware as the existing hardware becomeobsolete, without changing the underlying architecture. This is incontrast to components of a customer vendor board, wherein if thecomponent becomes unavailable, the customer board may have to beredesigned to work with new components. In addition, embodimentsdescribed herein eliminate the need to rely on the vendor to repair orreplace custom hardware.

As described above and as will be appreciated by one skilled in the art,embodiments of the present invention may be configured as a system orcomputing device. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention maybe comprised of various means including entirely of hardware, entirelyof software, or any combination of software and hardware. Furthermore,embodiments of the present invention may take the form of a computerprogram product on a computer-readable storage medium havingcomputer-readable program instructions (e.g., computer software)embodied in the storage medium. Any suitable computer-readable storagemedium may be utilized including hard disks, CD-ROMs, optical storagedevices, or magnetic storage devices.

Embodiments of the present invention have been described above withreference to block diagrams and flowchart illustrations of methods,apparatuses (i.e., systems) and computer program products. It will beunderstood that each block of the block diagrams and flowchartillustrations, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams andflowchart illustrations, respectively, can be implemented by variousmeans including computer program instructions. These computer programinstructions may be loaded onto a general purpose computer, specialpurpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus toproduce a machine, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer or other programmable data processing apparatus create a meansfor implementing the functions specified in the flowchart block orblocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in acomputer-readable memory that can direct a computer or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readablememory produce an article of manufacture including computer-readableinstructions for implementing the function specified in the flowchartblock or blocks. The computer program instructions may also be loadedonto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to causea series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or otherprogrammable apparatus to produce a computer-implemented process suchthat the instructions that execute on the computer or other programmableapparatus provide steps for implementing the functions specified in theflowchart block or blocks.

Accordingly, blocks of the block diagrams and flowchart illustrationssupport combinations of means for performing the specified functions,combinations of steps for performing the specified functions and programinstruction means for performing the specified functions. It will alsobe understood that each block of the block diagrams and flowchartillustrations, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams andflowchart illustrations, can be implemented by special purposehardware-based computer systems that perform the specified functions orsteps, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computerinstructions.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forthherein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which theseembodiments of the invention pertain having the benefit of the teachingspresented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings.Therefore, it is to be understood that the embodiments of the inventionare not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and thatmodifications and other embodiments are intended to be included withinthe scope of the appended claims. Moreover, although the foregoingdescriptions and the associated drawings describe exemplary embodimentsin the context of certain exemplary combinations of elements and/orfunctions, it should be appreciated that different combinations ofelements and/or functions may be provided by alternative embodimentswithout departing from the scope of the appended claims. In this regard,for example, different combinations of elements and/or functions thanthose explicitly described above are also contemplated as may be setforth in some of the appended claims. Although specific terms areemployed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense onlyand not for purposes of limitation.

That which is claimed:
 1. A system for simulating an operatingenvironment of a power plant control room comprising: a simulatorconfigured to simulate the operating environment of a power plantcontrol room; and a simulation computer in communication with thesimulator, the simulation computer configured to perform a plurality ofreal-time calculations associated with modeling the operatingenvironment of the power plant control room, wherein the simulator andthe simulation computer include only standard off-the-shelf components.2. The system of claim 1, wherein the simulator is further configured tosimulate the operating environment of a nuclear power plant controlroom.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the simulator further comprisesa Pico-ITX system based on a VIA PX1000G pico ITX motherboard.
 1. systemof claim 1, wherein the simulator further comprises a monitor configuredto display information similar to information likely to be displayed ina power plant control room.
 5. The system of claim 4, wherein themonitor comprises a standard video graphics array liquid crystal displaymonitor.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the simulator furthercomprises a Piezo.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the simulatorfurther comprises a keylock switch.
 8. The system of claim 7, whereinthe key-lock switch further comprises a two-position switch associatedwith a mode of operation of the simulator.
 9. The system of claim 1,wherein the simulator is configured to receive input from a user and totransmit the user input to the simulation computer.
 10. The system ofclaim 9, wherein in order to perform the plurality of calculations, thesimulation computer is further configured to perform the plurality ofcalculations based at least in part on the user input.
 11. The system ofclaim 10, wherein the simulation computer is further configured totransmit one or more results of the plurality of calculations to thesimulator.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the simulator is furtherconfigured to generate an output to the user based at least in part onthe one or more results.
 13. The system of claim 1, wherein thesimulator and the simulation computer are in communication via acategory 6 (CAT6) cable.
 14. The system of claim 1, wherein thesimulator further comprises memory configured to store display and logicsoftware developed based on Visual Basic.NET.